Mangoes start arriving in C'nawabganj markets
Ban on harvest goes as the fruit matures
Markets in the district famous for high quality tasty varieties of mangoes now see abundance of the popular summer fruit, especially gopalbhog and few varieties of guti, as harvest started on Wednesday.
Earlier on May 10, the district administration in a meeting with the officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Regional Horticulture Research Station, Chapainawabganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bholahat Mango Foundation, Kansat Mango Depots Association and mango traders imposed ban on the harvest of mangoes before May 25.
The decision was taken to prevent artificial ripening of the fruit before its full maturity.
On Wednesday afternoon, Jahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Chapainawabganj inaugurated the mango harvest at an orchard of Professor Para in town.
Visiting the mango market at Puraton Bazar in the town yesterday, this correspondent saw abundant supply of the mango but there was much less than usual customers.
In absence of sufficient publicity, many customers did not know about the start of harvesting and so, their presence is thin, said traders.
Jahangir Alam of Baliadanga village of Sadar upazila came to Masjidpara market in the town with eight maunds of gopalbhog mango, but he could not sell it due to lack of buyers.
Gopalbhog mangoes are selling at Tk 1600 to 2000 per maund at Puraton Bazar mango market.
The harvest started on Wednesday and separate dates have been fixed for different varieties of mangoes in view of their ripening nature, said Sajdar Rahman, deputy director of DAE, Chapainawabganj.
DAE officials said there are 19 lakh mango trees on 24,470 hectares of land in the district and at least 2.50 lakh tonnes mangoes are expected from there this season.
The area of the mango orchards and number of trees has increased, DAE sources said, adding that 2.50 lakh tonnes of mango was produced from 18.50 lakh trees on 24,260 hectares of land in the district last year.